In celebration of WNC Garlic Fest 2015, Sow True Seed is running a Garlic Harvest Photo Contest. It’s super easy to enter and three randomly selected winners will receive 1lb of seed garlic of their choice!

All you have to do is email community@sowtrue.com a fun picture of your garlic harvest, the name of the variety you grew and your own name. If you didn’t grow your own garlic, but you still want to play then send us ANY garlic picture that you took (cooking, eating, supermarket shenanigans…).*

All appropriate photos will be uploaded to the new WNC Garlic Fest website as an inspiring homage to the awesomeness of garlic.

The contest will run until July 16th, so send us a garlic photo NOW!

*emailing us a photo means that you are agreeing to give Sow True Seed and WNC Garlic Fest permission to share your photo publicly and you will be signed up to our bi-monthly newsletter. Sow True Seed will never sell or share your email address.

]]>http://sowtrueseed.com/articles/garlic-harvest-photo-contest/feed/0How to Grow Turmerichttp://sowtrueseed.com/articles/how-to-grow-turmeric/
http://sowtrueseed.com/articles/how-to-grow-turmeric/#commentsThu, 09 Jul 2015 18:41:03 +0000http://sowtrueseed.com/?p=4814Growing Turmeric Once you have a fresh rhizome or root, all you need to do is plant it. A large root will have several branches or fingers to it. You can cut these apart and start more than one plant … Continue reading →]]>

Growing Turmeric

Once you have a fresh rhizome or root, all you need to do is plant it. A large root will have several branches or fingers to it. You can cut these apart and start more than one plant if you wish. The easiest way to get it to sprout is to just bury the root under 2 inches of loose potting soil. If there are any knobs or buds on the root, turn it so they are facing upwards. Keep it damp but not sopping wet or the root may rot. In a month or so, you should see sprouts come up. If you are going to grow turmeric outside, you can transplant it out in the late fall. For indoor plants, you can do this anytime.

Transplanting

Though you could always just plant your pieces of root directly outside, it’s usually safer to keep them indoors until they have started to sprout. If you are growing more than one, plant each seedling about 12 to 16 inches apart. A sunny location is best but a little bit of afternoon shade shouldn’t hurt either.

Growing Instructions

Once your plants are established and growing well, they will need very little care from you. During winter months, turmeric needs less water but once the growing season starts you will want to water fairly frequently to keep the soil moist. Bi-monthly or even weekly feedings with a liquid fertilizer is ideal. If you see your plant going to flower, there is nothing to worry about. It won’t have any effect on your later root harvest, and the flowers don’t actually produce any seeds.

Containers

The majority of people who are going to grow turmeric will have to do so indoors, and it does grow fine in pots. It will likely grow too large for a windowsill but can thrive in a sunny room. Choose a container that is at least 12 inches across and the same in depth to give your plants room to grow. Water potted turmeric regularly to keep the soil damp, and weekly feedings with mild or diluted fertilizer are very beneficial.

Pests and Diseases

Turmeric is a plant that is seldom bothered by insects or disease. Your plant may develop leaf blotch or leaf spot, which is a fungus infection that will start out as brown patches on the leaves. The leaves will eventually turn yellow and drop off. Bordeaux fungicide can help control it if you catch it soon enough. If you are growing turmeric outside of Asia, there are not many insects interested in the plant. Aphids and mites sometimes cluster on the leaves, but they can easily be washed off with a spritz of water or a spray of insecticidal soap.

]]>http://sowtrueseed.com/articles/how-to-grow-turmeric/feed/51908 Seed Cataloghttp://sowtrueseed.com/articles/1908-seed-catalog/
http://sowtrueseed.com/articles/1908-seed-catalog/#commentsFri, 03 Jul 2015 19:03:51 +0000http://sowtrueseed.com/?p=4821Here is a complete digital version of a 1908 Seed Catalog. It’s full of some awesome varieties, many that I’ve never heard of and some that you’ll recognize and love today!]]>

Here is a complete digital version of a 1908 Seed Catalog. It’s full of some awesome varieties, many that I’ve never heard of and some that you’ll recognize and love today!

]]>http://sowtrueseed.com/articles/1908-seed-catalog/feed/0How to Grow Gingerhttp://sowtrueseed.com/articles/how-to-grow-ginger/
http://sowtrueseed.com/articles/how-to-grow-ginger/#commentsThu, 02 Jul 2015 20:47:17 +0000http://sowtrueseed.com/?p=4816How much space? Growing ginger doesn’t take up much room at all. Every rhizome you plant will first only grow a few leaves, in the one spot. Over time it will become a dense clump and very slowly get bigger, … Continue reading →]]>

How much space?

Growing ginger doesn’t take up much room at all. Every rhizome you plant will first only grow a few leaves, in the one spot. Over time it will become a dense clump and very slowly get bigger, but only if it isn’t harvested.

The rhizomes underground also don’t seem to mind if they become a bit crowded.

Ginger grows to about two or three feet in height.

A 14 inch pot easily holds three average rhizomes; a rectangular Styrofoam box holds about nine to a dozen. If planting them in the ground plant them about six to eight inches apart.

How much water?

Ginger needs a lot of moisture while actively growing. The soil should never dry out. Don’t overwater though, because the water that drains away will take nutrients with it.

Ginger loves humidity: If you have problems with dry air then regular spraying and misting might help. Dry air can cause problems with spider mites. But that’s not a problem for people who try to grow ginger out of its range and indoors. A sheltered, moist spot in a warm climate will provide enough humidity. Towards the end of summer, as the weather starts cooling down, your ginger will start to die back. Reduce the water, even let the ground dry out. This encourages the ginger to form rhizomes. Once all the leaves have died down your ginger is ready for harvest.

How much and which plant food?

If you are growing ginger in good, rich soil it shouldn’t need anything extra. I grow mine in tubs. I put in fresh compost mix every year and never add any extra fertilizer. If you don’t have good soil, or if you are growing ginger in some standard bought potting mix, then you have to feed it regularly. You will also have to feed it if you are growing ginger in an area that gets torrential summer rains (many tropical regions do). Such rains leach all the goodness from the soil. Work in some organic slow release fertilizer at planting time. After that you can use some liquid fertilizer like seaweed extract or fish fertilizer every few weeks.

When to harvest ginger root?

If you are growing ginger root in the garden you can start stealing little bits of it once it is about four months old. Just dig carefully at the side of a clump. (This “green ginger” does have a lot less flavor than the mature stuff, though.)

The best time to harvest ginger is any time after the leaves have died down. Usually it takes eight to ten months to get to that point.

]]>http://sowtrueseed.com/articles/how-to-grow-ginger/feed/1The Best Homegrown Herbs for Tea Infusionshttp://sowtrueseed.com/articles/the-best-homegrown-herbs-for-tea-infusions/
http://sowtrueseed.com/articles/the-best-homegrown-herbs-for-tea-infusions/#commentsWed, 10 Jun 2015 19:16:16 +0000http://sowtrueseed.com/?p=4784Making your own herbal infusions is so easy, so economical and so beautiful in the garden, that I don’t understand why everyone doesn’t have a small herbal tea garden. You can make iced teas with the fresh herbs in the … Continue reading →]]>

Making your own herbal infusions is so easy, so economical and so beautiful in the garden, that I don’t understand why everyone doesn’t have a small herbal tea garden. You can make iced teas with the fresh herbs in the summer and you can dry the leaves and flowers for warming teas throughout the winter.

I don’t have any set recipes, I just mix pinches of herbs from different jars and make a big fresh batch each day. I always try and get some green leaves (like Tulsi) and some fragrant flowers (like Chamomile) in the batch, but you should experiment yourself – it’s all going to be delicious!

Here are some pretty awesome herbal teas to get you started!

Tulsi Basil (aka Holy Basil)

It has been used as an immune-enhancing, antifugal and antibacterial medicinal herb. It has been grown in India since ancient times. Makes a wonderful, soothing tea. At Sow True Seed, we carry two varieties:

Tulsi, Sri - a traditional green Tulsi, also known as Rama. A good variety for warmer climates, though it can be grown in colder climates if taken indoors during winter.

Tulsi, Kapoor - The Kapoor variety is the best tulsi basil for temperate gardens. A very aromatic annual that has been known to self-seed.

Bee Balm

A brilliant addition to late summer gardens. Butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees flock to these edible, lavender colored flowers on 12-24″ tall plants. Leaves and flowers are used for tea.

Lemon Balm

Hyssop

Excellent beneficial insect attractant. Blooms in early summer with lavender blue flowers on bushy plants. Well known for its historical medicinal properties, lesser known for its once common culinary uses.

]]>http://sowtrueseed.com/articles/the-best-homegrown-herbs-for-tea-infusions/feed/1Asheville’s Pollination Celebration! Aims to Get You Buzzedhttp://sowtrueseed.com/articles/ashevilles-pollination-celebration-aims-to-get-you-buzzed/
http://sowtrueseed.com/articles/ashevilles-pollination-celebration-aims-to-get-you-buzzed/#commentsWed, 10 Jun 2015 14:41:38 +0000http://sowtrueseed.com/?p=4797June 7, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Asheville’s Pollination Celebration! Aims to Get You Buzzed Asheville, NC–Most of us have heard that honeybees and monarchs are in trouble, but did you know that almost all pollinators need our help? Every third … Continue reading →]]>

June 7, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Asheville’s Pollination Celebration! Aims to Get You Buzzed

Asheville, NC–Most of us have heard that honeybees and monarchs are in trouble, but did you know that almost all pollinators need our help? Every third bite we eat is thanks to bees, contributing about $15 billion to American agriculture annually. An astounding 85% of the world’s flowering plant species need pollinators to reproduce!

To raise pollinator consciousness, every certified Bee City USA® community commits to holding at least one educational event each year, usually during National Pollinator Week in June. Being the inaugural Bee City USA, Asheville goes a little crazy and hosts Pollination Celebration! for the whole week, Ingles Markets is the lead sponsor for this year’s Pollination Celebration!

Whether you want to learn about pollinator friendly gardening, gasp at the site of flowers and their pollinators interacting thanks to time lapsed photography, taste honey from around the world, touch a monarch caterpillar, or hear from national experts on pollinators, there’s sure to be something you would enjoy this year. The fun kicks off this year on June 11, 4:00 – 7:00, at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel with a sampling of the week’s activities along with libations, music and finger food. For full details on each Pollination Celebration! event, visit Bee City USA.

Keynote Speaker: Author & Apiculturist Dr. Mark Winston

Highly sought after author and apiculturist, Dr. Mark Winston is the keynote speaker. On Tuesday evening, June 16, he will speak at the Mountain Horticultural Research Station to beekeepers, and Pack Library will host a free public presentation on Wednesday, June 17 in their Lord Auditorium. While teaching and researching in British Columbia, Winston wrote The Biology of the Honey Bee; Killer Bees: The Africanized Honey Bee in the Americas; Nature Wars: People vs. Pests; Travels in the Genetically Modified Zone; From Where I Sit; and most recently, Bee Time: Lessons From the Hive. Winston recounts his experiences over 30 years of walking into apiaries, and the lessons learned from a life spent among the bees–powerful lessons about how we humans can better understand our place in nature, engage the people and events surrounding us with greater focus and clarity, interact more effectively in our relationships and communities, and open ourselves to a deeper understanding of who we are as individuals, communities and a species.

“Being among bees is a full-body experience,” says Mark Winston, “from the low hum of tens of thousands of insects and the pungent smell of honey and beeswax, to the sight of workers flying back and forth between flowers and the hive. The experience of an apiary slows our sense of time, heightens our awareness, and inspires awe.” Winston explains, “Like us, honeybees represent a pinnacle of animal sociality; how they submerge individual needs into the colony collective provides a lens through which to ponder human societies. Winston explains how bees process information, structure work, and communicate; and shows how corporate boardrooms are using bee societies as a model to improve collaboration. He examines how bees have altered our understanding of agricultural ecosystems, and how urban planners are looking to bees in designing more nature-friendly cities. The relationship between bees and people has not always been benign. Bee populations are diminishing due to human impact; we can’t afford to ignore what the demise of bees tells us about our own tenuous affiliation with nature. Toxic interactions between pesticides and bee diseases have been particularly harmful, foreshadowing similar harmful effects of pesticides on our health. There is much to learn from bees in how they respond to these challenges. In sustaining their societies, bees teach us ways to sustain our own.”

On Sunday evening, June 14, nationally known, award-winning conservation and natural history photographer Clay Bolt will also keynote for Pollination Celebration! 2015. The Carolina Nature Photographers Association, Asheville Chapter, is hosting Bolt at the Reuter Center at UNC Asheville. Bolt says, “Over 99% of life on Earth is smaller than your finger! This means that no matter where you live, there is always something to discover and photograph. It is a common misconception that a photographer must travel to a distant continent to find subjects worthy of photographing, when many of the most amazing creatures you’ll ever see can be found just outside your back door.”

Bolt specializes in macro and close-up photography of Southern Appalachian biodiversity with an emphasis on invertebrates (bugs), reptiles and amphibians. He regularly works with organizations and publications such as National Geographic, The Nature Conservancy, Outdoor Photographer, BBC Wildlife and the International League of Conservation Photographers. This year Bolt is focusing (literally!) on bees across North America in a partnership with the Xerces Society. In addition to sharing his stunning photographs of pollinators, Bolt will discuss how to use the on-white, Field Studio Technique that has been popularized by the international Meet Your Neighbors project that he co-founded in 2009.

The project has grown to include dozens of photographers representing locations around the world committed to the mission of reconnecting people with the wildlife that lives within their own communities. He’ll also share his tips for utilizing more advanced topics such as photographing insects in flight and wide-angle macro photography. Bolt will be sharing ways to use macro photography to tell the stories of subjects for conservation and editorial purposes so that anyone can become more effective champions for wildlife in their community. President Elect for the Board of Directors of the North American Nature Photography Association, Bolt is passionate about spreading the message that a connection to nature begins at home and is always seeking out new ways to promote this concept through his photography, writing, presentations and community involvement.

On June 11, the Renaissance Asheville Hotel will launch Pollination Celebration! with a sampling of the week’s line-up from 4:00 until 7:00. Monarch Rescue will lead seed bomb-making as live monarch butterflies look on; Twin Leaf Brewery will unveil its honey tea Belgian Saison beer; and the Faerie Kin Stiltwakers, dressed as giant bees, will waltz among the guests. That evening, twenty percent of the proceeds at the Hotel’s Writers Bistro will benefit Bee City USA.

Join naturalist, plant ecologist, and garden educator Dr. Lisa Wagner for an informal presentation focused on gardening for pollinators at the Botanical Gardens of Asheville Saturday morning, June 13.

The afternoon of June 13 at 1:30, Master Gardener and master beekeeper Diane Almond will lead the “Wise Beekeepers Roundtable” discussion at Living Web Farms in Mills River. Several noted pollinator experts will serve as panelists.

On Monday, June 15 at 5:30, the Faerie Kin Stiltwalkers will perform their newest show “Enchanted Bees” at Pritchard Park and then escort pedestrians to the Asheville Bee Charmer on Park Battery Park Avenue, where they may taste an array of honeys from around the world. After opening their first store in West Asheville, there was such interest in bee-related products, owners Jillian Kelly and Kim Allen opened the second location last fall.

Last year, after the Fine Arts Theater aired Wings of Life–a breathtaking documentary representing a lifetime of time-lapsed photography of flowers and their pollinators by Louie Schwartzberg–so many people asked if there would be other showings, Fine Arts Theatre and Bee City USA decided to present an encore on Thursday evening, June 18, Tickets cost $10.00.

West Asheville Library will present beloved Hobey Ford’s Golden Rod Puppets: Migration on Friday at 11:00, June 19. Tickets are free but should be picked up at the library after June fifth. Monarch educator Ina Warren will provide a display about monarch butterflies.

Monarch expert Kim Bailey will lead a free pollinator walk at the Audubon Sanctuary at Beaver Lake on Saturday morning, June 20. Children are encouraged to participate. That evening under the stars, Wedge Brewery will present a free showing of “Queen of the Sun” a documentary about the challenges faced by honeybees.

On Sunday June 21, Father’s Day, Asheville GreenWorks hosts a tour of private gardens in Biltmore Forest, in which Bee City USA will, showcase examples of what gardeners can do to provide healthy habitat for pollinators. Tickets are $25 or $20 in advance.

That same afternoon, Hop’n Blueberry Farm in Black Mountain invites families to visit the butterfly meadow and house, tag monarch butterflies, and build native bee houses. Cost is $10 per family and preregistration is required.

“If lots of individuals and communities begin planting native, pesticide-free flowering trees, shrubs and plants, it will create large-scale change for thousands of species of pollinators at risk—including bees we all depend on for our food production,” said Bee City USA director, Phyllis Stiles. “How each city celebrates pollinators is up to them, but we especially encourage educational programs for children, like school gardens. When a child falls in love with pollinators, they are friends for life.”

Bee City USA urges municipalities, individuals, organizations, corporations, and communities to promote and establish pollinator–friendly landscapes that are free of pesticides. So far, nine cities across the nation have been certified.For more information about the application process for becoming a Bee City USA community, visit www.beecityusa.org.

For full details on each Pollination Celebration! event, visit Bee City USA.

]]>http://sowtrueseed.com/articles/ashevilles-pollination-celebration-aims-to-get-you-buzzed/feed/0Seed Artist Profile: Amy Reber: Calendulahttp://sowtrueseed.com/articles/seed-artist-profile-amy-reber-calendula/
http://sowtrueseed.com/articles/seed-artist-profile-amy-reber-calendula/#commentsWed, 27 May 2015 19:19:36 +0000http://sowtrueseed.com/?p=4759In 2015 Sow True Seed decided to design beautiful artwork for 160 of our seed varieties. We reached out to the gardening community for help with the artwork and were humbled by the awesome response. Seed is beautiful! Over the … Continue reading →]]>

In 2015 Sow True Seed decided to design beautiful artwork for 160 of our seed varieties. We reached out to the gardening community for help with the artwork and were humbled by the awesome response. Seed is beautiful! Over the next year we will be highlighting all of these wonderful artists. Please check out their work and support them if you can! Follow them on Social Media, comment below with messages of adoration and big kudos for supporting small business supporting sustainable and responsible agriculture!

Amy Reber was selected to design the artwork for our Calendula seed packet.

What is your favorite vegetable to eat and why?

My favorite is broccoli because it not only tastes good just by itself, but it is full of such a great variety of nutrients!

What is your favorite vegetable to grow and why?

I have not grown any vegetables as an adult, but my parents had a garden when I was a child and I used to LOVE to dig the potatoes and pull the carrots…..it was like a treasure hunt.

Why did you choose the medium you used for the packet design?

All of my work starts with a pencil drawing which I then ink in using Micron pens. I download the original drawing in to Adobe Illustrator and work with the drawing digitally at that point.

What is your favorite medium to work with and why?

Pencil and ink! I have no patience for letting paint dry and I can take pencils, paper and ink pens wherever I go!

Why were you excited about this project?

When I sit down to draw, and I have nothing that “needs” to get done usually some sort of floral will emerge, so this was one of the main things that excited me about this project….yay, I get to draw flowers! Also, my Mom has the most GORGEOUS flower gardens (flowers and foliage are her medium of choice….her gardens are a work of art), and I knew she would be thrilled to see one of my designs on a seed packet. I can’t wait to give her one.

What is your favorite flower and why?

Peony….the the neverending layers of petals….. and the gorgeous color

Do you have anything else you want to share with potential customers?

I was born and raised in Washington State, USA and that will always be “home” to me. I married my husband, an active duty Marine,13 years ago. We have lived in many different places since then, which has truly enriched my life. We currently live in Virginia with our three young children.

I LOVE and have a passion for drawing, color, pattern and design. This passion has produced an immense drive in me to produce bold, colorful, striking designs for any and all surfaces. I am entirely self taught, drawing any spare minute I get. Within the last few years I have been steadily increasing my knowledge on how to “grow” my designs on the computer. I find the whole process so utterly fulfilling on a very personal level. I take pride in the fact that the majority of my designs start with a pencil and paper. Being a full time stay-at-home Mom, and living an ever-changing military lifestyle, it feels wonderful to have found “IT.”

My eyes are always peeled for beautiful patterns and color combinations. I find inspiration from so many places …..whether it’s an unexpected flower on a hike, a colorful swimsuit at the pool or just plain checking out Pinterest and looking up “patterns in nature”; any of these things can prompt me to get my ideas down on paper as soon as possible!

See more of Amy’s work:

]]>http://sowtrueseed.com/articles/seed-artist-profile-amy-reber-calendula/feed/1Top Five Edible Flowershttp://sowtrueseed.com/articles/top-five-edible-flowers/
http://sowtrueseed.com/articles/top-five-edible-flowers/#commentsTue, 26 May 2015 20:23:28 +0000http://sowtrueseed.com/?p=4747Edible flowers are the best! They look good, they keep the pollinators happy AND you can eat them. Check out this selection of edible flowers to get you started: Nasturtium Both the flowers and leaves are edible with a peppery … Continue reading →]]>

Edible flowers are the best! They look good, they keep the pollinators happy AND you can eat them. Check out this selection of edible flowers to get you started:

Nasturtium

Both the flowers and leaves are edible with a peppery watercress flavor. There are a good range of varieties to grow, but they are all tasty! View Nasturtium Seed HERE.

Borage

Gorgeous blue and purple flowers are edible in salads and make a delicious, soothing tea. High end restaurants freeze individual flowers in ice cubes for fancy cocktails! View Borage Seed HERE.

Johnny Jump Up Viola

These tiny edible beauties will be the first to bloom in your garden, and have been known to poke their pretty faces through snow. View Johnny Jump Up seeds HERE.

Squash Blossoms

A little know secret is that these delicate flowers can be eaten baked, fried, stuffed, in soup, salad or any way you can think of! There are lots of squash plants to choose from, so grow some squash and eat some flowers! View squash varieties HERE.

Bee Balm

Bee balm can add a spicy flavor to a salad or steeped as a delicious summer tea. The pollinators really love this one too! View Bee Balm Seed HERE. Written by Sow True Seed’s Farmer-Garden Expert, Chloe Smith

]]>http://sowtrueseed.com/articles/top-five-edible-flowers/feed/0Top Five Tips for Successful Tomato Transplantshttp://sowtrueseed.com/articles/top-five-tips-for-successful-tomato-transplants/
http://sowtrueseed.com/articles/top-five-tips-for-successful-tomato-transplants/#commentsThu, 21 May 2015 17:18:28 +0000http://sowtrueseed.com/?p=4742It’s an exciting time of the year for tomatoes. Whether you’ve nurtured them yourself from seeds, or purchased tomato plants from your favorite local seed company (;-)), it is now warm enough to get those delicate little plants in the … Continue reading →]]>

It’s an exciting time of the year for tomatoes. Whether you’ve nurtured them yourself from seeds, or purchased tomato plants from your favorite local seed company (;-)), it is now warm enough to get those delicate little plants in the ground.

Here are five top tips to get your tomato transplants off to a strong start:

Sunlight - don’t overlook this simple necessity. Originally from Mexico, tomatoes love the sunshine, so select a spot in your garden where they wont be disappointed.

Food and Nutrients – we all know tomatoes are heavy feeders, but too much nitrogen will promote leaf growth to the detriment of fruit development. In considering crop rotation, don’t plant tomatoes in the same place in consecutive years and be wary of planting after a nitrogen fixing crop (legumes like peas and beans).

Space and Airflow - they may look pretty small now, and it’s certainly a gardener’s vice to squeeze as much into a small space as possible, but tomatoes need space. Giving them good airflow will help reduce the chances of blight, fungal problems and pests. We suggest mature spacing of 18-24″.

Root TLC - tender loving care! Be careful removing the plant from the pot and then gently massage the outer roots for faster development once in the ground. Don’t be so aggressive that you damage the roots and slow down development!

[SUPER TIP!] Plant Deep and Water - the hairy stem of the tomato will grow roots if buried! You can pinch off the lower leaves and bury the stem deeply for a strong base and good nutrient uptake. Your tomato will want to be well watered once transplanted to help with the shocking transition into the real world.

Good luck and enjoy those tomatoes!

Sow True Seed sells summer transplants (including a wide range of tomatoes) at it’s shop in Downtown Asheville: 146 Church St, Asheville NC 28801. We also sell lots of open-pollinated tomato seeds, so you can start your own transplants in the spring!

]]>http://sowtrueseed.com/articles/top-five-tips-for-successful-tomato-transplants/feed/0Shiitake, Asparagus and Sundried Tomato Pasta Recipehttp://sowtrueseed.com/articles/shiitake-asparagus-and-sundried-tomato-pasta-recipe/
http://sowtrueseed.com/articles/shiitake-asparagus-and-sundried-tomato-pasta-recipe/#commentsWed, 20 May 2015 21:40:28 +0000http://sowtrueseed.com/?p=4733One of my favorite things about being a gardener is the creativity that I get to put to use in the kitchen. I am constantly being challenged to find a use for two or more ingredients that appear to not … Continue reading →]]>

One of my favorite things about being a gardener is the creativity that I get to put to use in the kitchen. I am constantly being challenged to find a use for two or more ingredients that appear to not go together. The resulting meal is usually fantastic, but there are times, every now and then, that I create an ‘epic fail’ meal. It is the same with gardening…mostly successes, with the occasionally failure. The wonderful thing about failure is that we can learn from our mistakes. Mistakes are wonderful actually. So go out and do some experimenting. Trial and error is the best way to learn, in the garden, in the kitchen, and in life. Then there are times when magic happens…when the day’s harvest instantly speaks to me. This recipe that I’m about to share with you was from such a day of inspiration. It is currently spring, and the asparagus is going crazy in our garden, and after a week of wonderful, soaking rains, our shiitake mushroom logs are fruiting. I also had some beautiful young bunching onions that I pulled, and I was lucky enough to still have some sundried tomatoes from last year. How could this gorgeous array of colors and textures not inspire you… So let’s start by saying that if you have property, and you like mushrooms, you need to be growing your own mushroom logs. They are spectacular! It is so rewarding to harvest your own mushrooms. This is our first year harvesting shiitake mushrooms, and let’s just say, that after the harvest of mushrooms this spring we will be inoculating MANY more logs! Also, asparagus…you should be growing your own. You can get it as seeds or as crowns in the spring. It takes a few years to be able to harvest, but the time investment is completely worth it. I mean, that time is going to be passing anyway, right?! Why not have asparagus establishing itself in your garden while time passes. So, let’s get in the kitchen shall we? Shiitake, Asparagus, & Sundried Tomato Pasta Recipe Makes 3 servings Ingredients

1 Tbsp, Olive Oil

1 Tbsp, Butter (optional, adds another layer of flavor though) – if you omit the butter add a little more olive oil

5-7 Shiitake Mushrooms (the more the better in my opinion), sliced thin

¼ cup, Half & Half – optional (I use the cream I have on hand. You can use heavy whipping cream as well…it will just be a heavier flavor)

½ cup, Parmesan Cheese (reserve ¼ cup for topping)

Pasta of any sort, I used Angel Hair

Directions It does not take long to cook this meal, so you want to start by boiling the water for the pasta. By the time the pasta is done, the rest will be ready to go. After you get your pasta going, start by sautéing the mushrooms in the olive oil and butter on medium heat. Once browned add the garlic, sundried tomatoes, asparagus, and green onions. Cook for about a minute (if you like your asparagus really soft, cook for longer). Add the wine (I used dry vermouth) and reduce by half. Add the broth, half & half, and parmesan, and cook for 30 seconds to a minute. Turn the heat off. Once the pasta is done, add the pasta to the pan, and toss with the mushroom and asparagus mixture. Put it in a bowl and top with parmesan cheese and green onions. Most importantly…enjoy eating this little bit of spring garden magic!